Memory Lane

I had a quick trip down memory lane tonight when someone posted this picture on Facebook:

It seems to have started up a bit of discussion in a few different areas, including my cousin freaking out that it was a recent picture and that I cut my hair.  This is a picture of my days in my favorite apartment.  I lived there for three years and had a lot of great times with a lot of great friends and roommates.  This particular picture is most likely from 2004/2005 (I must not have changed much in the last seven or eight years if my cousin thought it was a current photo).  I have no idea why they're holding me up though.  Other discussions mentioned me and how I was remembered from that time, I'm glad to say that I gave such a good impression then and hope I still do now.

It made me think about how I missed those people, that complex, and all the fun times we had.  I very briefly thought that I'd like to go back to that time, but then I realized that as good as it was then, a lot more good has happened since then, more importantly, I've learned a whole lot more as well.  I also remembered that with as much fun as I had, this time was also riddled with a lot of obstacles for me, ones that I don't really want to relive, but that I was glad to have happen.  At the time, my bishop and I had a discussion about some of the things happening and he told me, "I can't wait to see who you become."  Looking back, I've come a very long way and feel like I've gained so much and that I am so much stronger.  I like who I've become and I wish I could share it with the person I was eight years ago.

As fun as it was to briefly visit the past, I also realized that I love the right now in my life.  I have great friends, a whole lot more insight, a fun job, a home, and so much more!  I still have my struggles here and there, but I also have some great things going for me right now, some of which I would have never guessed for myself seven or eight years ago.  As great as things are, I know I still have quite a bit to learn and accomplish and I still find myself thinking, "I can't wait to see who you become."